U.S. patent number 9,693,512 [Application Number 15/061,707] was granted by the patent office on 2017-07-04 for wireless sensor systems for hydroponics.
This patent grant is currently assigned to Aessense Technology Hong Kong Limited. The grantee listed for this patent is Aessense Technology Hong Kong Limited. Invention is credited to Tianshu Chen, Wenpeng Hsueh, Kent Kernahan, Simon Wong, Huafang Zhou.
United States Patent |
9,693,512 |
Chen , et al. |
July 4, 2017 |
Wireless sensor systems for hydroponics
Abstract
A hydroponic system includes a first sensor system that measures
one or more characteristics of a nutrient solution, a second sensor
system that measures one or more characteristics of an environment
of a plant; and a network device including a communication
interface to the first sensor system and a communication interface
to the second sensor system. The network device may be configured
to transmit measurements from the sensor systems through a wireless
network to a remote device or database. The network device and the
sensor systems may be implemented in a housing that fits within a
collar of the hydroponic system. The collar can allow easy
replacement of the sensor systems and can electrically isolate the
sensor systems.
Inventors: |
Chen; Tianshu (Dublin, CA),
Hsueh; Wenpeng (San Ramon, CA), Zhou; Huafang (San Jose,
CA), Wong; Simon (Los Altos, CA), Kernahan; Kent
(Cupertino, CA) |
Applicant: |
Name |
City |
State |
Country |
Type |
Aessense Technology Hong Kong Limited |
Harbour, Kowloon |
N/A |
HK |
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Assignee: |
Aessense Technology Hong Kong
Limited (Harbour, Kowloon, HK)
|
Family
ID: |
56849398 |
Appl.
No.: |
15/061,707 |
Filed: |
March 4, 2016 |
Prior Publication Data
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Document
Identifier |
Publication Date |
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US 20160255781 A1 |
Sep 8, 2016 |
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Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
Issue Date |
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14341774 |
Jul 26, 2014 |
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Current U.S.
Class: |
1/1 |
Current CPC
Class: |
H04B
5/0037 (20130101); H04W 4/80 (20180201); H04B
5/0081 (20130101); A01G 31/02 (20130101); G01N
33/0098 (20130101); G01N 33/18 (20130101); H04W
84/18 (20130101); H04B 5/0031 (20130101); H04W
84/12 (20130101) |
Current International
Class: |
A01G
31/02 (20060101); H04W 84/12 (20090101); H04W
4/00 (20090101); G01N 33/00 (20060101); H04W
84/18 (20090101); G01N 33/18 (20060101); H04B
5/00 (20060101) |
References Cited
[Referenced By]
U.S. Patent Documents
Foreign Patent Documents
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WO 2009125023 |
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Oct 2009 |
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DK |
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Primary Examiner: Sandiford; Devan
Attorney, Agent or Firm: Millers; David
Parent Case Text
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS
This patent document is a continuation-in-part and claims benefit
of the earlier filing date of U.S. patent application Ser. No.
14/341,774, filed Jul. 26, 2014, which is hereby incorporated by
reference in its entirety.
Claims
What is claimed is:
1. A sensing system comprising: a first sensor system configured to
measure a plurality of characteristics of an environment
surrounding a plant in a hydroponic system; a network device
including a controller, a first communication interface configured
for communication with the first sensor system, and a network
interface configured for communication through a network, the
network device being configured to transmit measurements from the
first sensor system through the network to a remote device; a
housing containing the first sensor system and the network device,
wherein a portion of the housing has a shape that matches a collar
in the hydroponic system and that allows the sensing system to be
inserted into or removed from the collar; and a power receiving
circuit in the housing, wherein: inserting the housing in the
collar positions the power receiving circuit for an inductive
coupling with a power transmitting circuit in the collar; and the
power receiving circuit uses an induce voltage to supply power to
the second sensor system.
2. The system of claim 1, further comprising: a second sensor
system that measures a plurality of characteristics of a nutrient
solution in a reservoir of the hydroponic system, wherein the
network device further includes a second communication interface
configured for communication with the second sensor system, the
network device being further configured to transmit measurements
from the second sensor system through the network to the remote
device.
3. The system of claim 2, wherein the network device further
comprises a third communication interface configured for
communication with control electronics of the hydroponic
system.
4. The system of claim 2, wherein the second sensor system includes
a sensor selected from a group consisting of temperature sensors,
pH sensors, electrical conductivity sensors, total dissolved solids
sensors, dissolved oxygen sensors, total suspended solids sensors,
sensors specific chemicals or nutrients, and reservoir level
sensors.
5. The system of claim 4, wherein the first sensor system includes
a sensor selected from a group consisting of a light intensity
sensor, a spectrometer, an air velocity sensor, an oxygen sensor, a
carbon dioxide sensor, and a carbon monoxide sensor.
6. The system of claim 2, wherein the housing further contains the
second sensor system.
7. The system of claim 6, wherein inserting the housing into the
collar positions a portion of the second sensor system in the
nutrient solution and positions a portion of the first sensor
system adjacent to a plant fixture of the hydroponic system.
8. The system of claim 1, wherein the first communication interface
implements wireless communications between the network device and
the first sensor system.
9. The system of claim 1, wherein the first sensor system includes
a sensor selected from a group consisting of a light intensity
sensor, a spectrometer, an air velocity sensor, an oxygen sensor, a
carbon dioxide sensor, and a carbon monoxide sensor.
10. The system of claim 1, wherein the network interface is
configured for communication through a wireless network.
11. A sensing system for hydroponics, the system comprising; a
sensor system that measures a plurality of characteristics of a
nutrient solution in a reservoir of a hydroponic system; a network
device including a controller, a first communication interface
configured for communication with the sensor system, and a network
interface configured for communication through a network, the
network device being configured to transmit measurements from the
sensor system through the network to a remote device; a housing
containing the sensor system and the network device, wherein a
portion of the housing has a shape that matches a collar in the
hydroponic system and that allows the sensing system to be inserted
into or removed from the collar; and a power receiving circuit in
the housing, wherein: inserting the housing, in the collar of the
hydroponic system positions the power receiving circuit for an
inductive coupling with a power transmitting circuit in the collar;
and the power receiving circuit uses an induce voltage to supply
power to the sensor system.
12. The system of claim 11, wherein the sensor system includes a
sensor selected from a group consisting of temperature sensors, pH
sensors, electrical conductivity sensors, total dissolved solids
sensors, dissolved oxygen sensors, total suspended solids sensors,
sensors specific chemicals or nutrients, and reservoir level
sensors.
13. The system of claim 11, wherein inserting the housing into the
collar places a portion of the sensor system in the nutrient
solution.
14. The system of claim 11, wherein the network device further
comprises a second communication interface configured for
communication with control electronics of the hydroponic
system.
15. The system of claim 11, wherein the first communication
interface implements wireless communications between the network
device and the sensor system.
16. The system of claim 11, wherein the network interface is
configured for communication through a wireless network.
17. A hydroponic system comprising: a plant fixture; a reservoir
configured to contain a nutrient solution for growing of a plant in
the plant fixture; control electronics for the hydroponic system; a
first sensor system that measures a plurality of characteristics of
the nutrient solution; a second sensor system that measures a
plurality of characteristics of an environment surrounding the
plant; and a network device including a controller, a first
communication interface configured for communication with the first
sensor system, a second communication interface configured for
communication with the second sensor system, a third communication
interface configured for communication with the control
electronics; and a network interface configured for communication
through a wireless network, the network device being configured to
transmit measurements from the first and second sensor systems
through the wireless network to a remote device and through the
third communication interface to the control electronics; a collar;
a power transmission circuit in the collar; a power receiving
circuit; and a housing containing the second sensor system, the
network device, and the power receiving circuit, wherein a portion
of the housing has a shape that matches the collar and that allows
the housing to be inserted into or removed from of the collar.
18. The system of claim 17, wherein the system further comprises: a
first H-field communications circuit in the collar; and a second
H-field communications circuit in the housing, wherein the control
electronics communicates with the network device through an
inductive coupling between the first H-field communications circuit
and the second H-field communications circuit.
Description
BACKGROUND
Hydroponics allows growing of plants using nutrient aqueous
solutions without soil, and aeroponics is a type of hydroponics
that provides nutrient solutions in an aerosol of droplets that may
be sprayed on or otherwise applied to plant roots. Hydroponic
systems have been developed that include systems for delivery of a
nutrient-rich solution to one or more plants, and such systems may
be used outdoors, in a green house, or within a facility that
provides a controlled environment for plant growth. Typically, such
systems require significant and direct human monitoring and
operations. In particular, a farmer may need to monitor plants
growing in a hydroponic system, routinely adjust system settings,
refill consumables, test the hydroponic system to be sure that the
hydroponic system is operating properly, and repair or replace any
faulty components. To be safe, frequent human intervention may
necessary to avoid a failure that results in plants dying or
growing poorly.
SUMMARY
In accordance with an aspect of the invention, a hydroponic system
may include a control module able to connect to a cloud-based
database to provide data regarding operation of in the hydroponic
system or to accept control commands for control of the operation
of the hydroponic system. In one configuration, a liquid sensing
module of the hydroponic system may capture real-time data points
such as measurements of solution temperature, pH, Electrical
Conductivity (EC), Total Dissolved Solids (TDS), Dissolved Oxygen
(DO), the presence or concentrations of specific chemicals or
nutrients (e.g., nitrogen), Total Suspended Solids (TSS), and
reservoir level for a nutrient solution and may provide the data
points to the control module. Additionally, an air-sensing module
may collect real-time data points such as measurements of
atmospheric characteristics such as air temperature, air velocity
or flow, relative humidity, and local atmospheric carbon dioxide
(CO.sub.2) and oxygen (O.sub.2) concentrations and measurements of
illumination characteristics such as the light intensity and
spectrum. The control module may report the measurements from the
liquid-sensing or air-sensing modules to the database and may
execute control commands that depend on the measurements or the
database. In particular, the control module may execute control
commands to modify operation of the hydroponic system, e.g., to
alter the nutrient solution or change lighting, temperature, or
atmospheric concentrations around the plants, based on the
measurements of the nutrient solution or the air environment.
One specific embodiment includes an interchangeable Water, Air,
Network Device (WAND) containing one or more sensors. Different
types of WANDs may contain different sets of sensors but may share
a form factor that fits a hydroponic system. Having different types
of WANDs with the same form factor allows a WAND in a hydroponic
system to be easily removed and replaced to change the
functionality of the hydroponic system, for example, when the plant
being grown in the hydroponic system changes. In one configuration,
the WAND may be devoid of internal power and instead may fit into a
collar in a hydroponic system, where the collar induces power into
the WAND. With standardized form factors for the WAND and collar, a
hydroponic system may be repaired, altered, or upgraded by removing
a WAND from the collar of the hydroponic system and inserting
another WAND that fits into the collar but may have functionality
that is the same or different from the functionality of the removed
WAND.
Another specific embodiment is a hydroponic system that includes a
plant fixture, a reservoir, a water or reservoir sensor system, an
open-air sensor system, and a network device. The reservoir
configured to contain a nutrient solution for growing of a plant in
the plant fixture, and the reservoir sensor system measures one or
more characteristics of the nutrient solution. The open-air sensor
system measures one or more characteristics of an environment
surrounding the plant. The network device may include a
communication interface to the reservoir sensor system and a
communication interface to the open-air sensor system, and the
network device may be configured to transmit measurements from the
sensor systems through a wireless network to a remote device or
database.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
FIG. 1 is a top level schematic showing subsystems of an exemplary
system may be electrically connected.
FIG. 2 shows an exemplary wireless power system.
FIG. 3 shows an electronic subsystem including Wi-Fi
capability.
FIG. 4 shows an open-air sensor subsystem.
FIG. 5 shows a reservoir or water sensor subsystem.
FIG. 6 shows an H-field local communications subsystem for an
electrically isolated device.
FIG. 7 is an H-field communications system used in a collar for an
electrically isolated device.
FIG. 8 shows an example of system control electronics for a
hydroponic system.
FIG. 9 is a block diagram of a hydroponic system employing an
inductive coupling to power and communicate with sensor systems and
a network device.
FIG. 10 illustrates how an electrically isolated sensor and network
device may be inserted or removed from a collar in a hydroponic
system.
FIG. 11 is a block diagram of a hydroponic system employing
separate modules for air sensor electronics, water sensor
electronics, and a network station.
FIG. 12 is a block diagram of an implementation of a network
station module.
FIG. 13 is a block diagram of an implementation of an air sensor
electronics module.
FIG. 14 is a block diagram of an implementation of a water sensor
electronics module.
The drawings illustrate examples for the purpose of explanation and
are not of the invention itself. Use of the same reference symbols
in different figures indicates similar or identical items.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
Various implementations are described in detail herein with
reference to the accompanying drawings, but references made to
particular examples or implementations are for illustrative
purposes and are not intended to limit the scope of the invention
or the claims.
Some implementations of hydroponic systems disclosed herein use a
network device, sometimes referred to herein as a Water, Air,
Network Device or WAND, which may be placed in a collar in the
hydroponic system. The variety of devices available for
implementations of a WAND and a collar make it impractical to
describe all possibilities in a disclosure. A WAND system may, for
example, include many sensors, one sensor, or even no sensors
within the scope of the present disclosure. Absent any sensors a
WAND may be useful as a control or communications device, for
example, as an access point, repeater, gateway, or bridge between
two different communications technologies.
By way of example, a WAND for providing sensor and communications
for an aeroponic growth system is presented. One of ordinary skill
in the related arts will appreciate the generality of the
disclosure and know how different implementations may be designed.
All such are within the scope of this disclosure and claims.
Looking to FIG. 1, an exemplary WAND and collar system 100 includes
a WAND 101 and a collar 102, customized for an exemplary aeroponic
growth system. WAND 101 includes H-Field Communications Electronics
(HCE) 120, Air Sensor Electronics (ASE) 130 , a Station Board (STA)
140 , Water Sensor Electronics (WSE) 150, and Power Receiver
Electronics (PRE) 160. Collar 102 includes an H-Field
Communications Collar (HCC) 110 and Power Transmitter Electronics
(PTE) 170. In the example of FIG. 1, PTE 170 employs power, ground,
and data lines connected to System Control Electronics (SCE) 180
and a main power supply 190. SCE 180 may control a hydroponic (or
aeroponic) system that provides an environment in which plants
grow. Main power supply 190 may be or connect to a line voltage
from a power company and may be transformed or rectified in
different ways to power SCE 180 and other subsystems or the
hydroponic system. Accordingly, SCE 180 and main power supply 190
are not strictly speaking a part of collar 102 but may connect to
WAND 101, for example, to communicate information through with or
through WAND and collar system 100.
The major example blocks are described in detail. In some
instances, component part numbers may be stated.
PTE 170 may be implemented in a variety of ways. PTE 170 in an
exemplary implementation provides power to PRE 160, which may be
inside a housing of WAND 101, and PRE 160 distributes power within
WAND 101 to HCE 120, ASE 130, STA 140, and WSE 150. FIG. 2 shows
PTE 170 coupled to PRE 160 for power transfer from the collar to
the WAND. In the illustrated configuration of PTE 170, a regulator
210 such as an LM25010 regulator receives 19 VDC from an external
supply. Regulator 210 provides a 3.3 VDC output, which powers a
manager 220 such as a Texas Instruments P/N BQ500210 "Qi Compliant
Wireless Power Transmitter Manager" 220. Manager 220 provides a
pulse width modulation (PWM) drive signal to a high speed coil
driver, for example a Texas Instruments TPS28225, which in turn
drives a transmitting coil 230, e.g., a Wurth Wireless Power
Charging Transmitter Coil 230 P/N 760368110 using the 19-VDC
supply. When the WAND is placed in the collar for use, transmitting
coil 230 is proximate to a receiving coil 240 such as a TDK P/N
WR-483250, which is electrically connected to a Texas Instruments
BQ51013 Wireless Power Receiver 250 in PRE 160. The 5.0 VDC output
of the power receiver 250 may be provided to STA 140 on a line
260.
Looking to FIG. 3, 5.0-VDC power received by STA 140 from PRE 160
on line 260 is further provided directly to the HCE 120 on a line
343, WSE 150 on a line 342, and ASE 130 on a line 341. 5.0 VDC
power is converted to 3.3 VDC and provided to a Wi-Fi unit 320, for
example a Microchip MRF24WG0MA. Wi-Fi unit 320 responds to data and
commands provided by a microcontroller unit (MCU) 310, for example
a Microchip PIC32MX695F512L via a nine-line bus 321. STA 140 may
also include RS-485 communications capability between MCU 310 and
ASE 130 on a bus 351, WSE 150 on a line 352, and HCE 120 on a line
353.
STA 140 may connect to ASE 130, which may support a suite of
sensors for sensing characteristics of the environment of a growing
plant. In addition to power and ground on line 341, STA 140 may
have an RS-484 communications for wire, two-way communication with
ASE 130 via bus 351. ASE 130 may include a suite of environmental
sensors 450 as shown in FIG. 4. Examples of environmental sensors
450 include sensors that measure concentrations of CO.sub.2, CO,
and O.sub.2 in the atmosphere around a plant and sensors that
measure characteristics of the ambient light in the environment.
Some embodiments of ASE 130 may include an MCU 410, for example, a
PIC32MX350F256H microcontroller, wherein MCU 410 includes an
analog-to-digital converter (ADC) 470 as shown in FIG. 4. Some
embodiments of ASE 130 include a multiplexer (MUX) or analog front
end 460 for selecting analog measurement signals from sensor suite
450. Some MCUs 410 may have enough analog input pins, so that an
external MUX 460 is not required. MCU 410 may manage the sensors,
for example powering them up or down, placing one or more sensors
in standby or operative mode, determining the status of one or more
sensors, or performing diagnostics on one or more sensors. MCU 410
may also be programmed to receive requests for data related to a
given sensor and to provide the data back to STA board 140 via the
RS-485 bus 420. STA 140 may then provide the data to the requester
via the Wi-Fi unit 320 or another data link.
WSE 150 may be similar to the ASE 130. WSE 150 may receive DC power
from STA 140 on line 342 and may also send and receive data on an
RS-485 wired communications bus 352. In the example shown in FIG.
5, WSE 150 includes a suite of water sensors 550, and the sensors
550 may be submerged in a water medium. Examples of sensors 550
include any c combination of pH sensors, temperature sensors, total
dissolved solids (TDS) sensors, sensors of specific chemicals,
resistivity sensors, and any other sensors useful for sensing one
or more characteristics a nutrient solution in a hydroponic system.
In the illustrated embodiment, WSE 150 includes an MCU 510, for
example, a PIC32MX350F256H microcontroller, wherein MCU 510
includes an analog-to-digital converter (ADC) 570. Some embodiments
of WSE 150 include a MUX or analog front end 560 to increase the
number of sensors in sensor suite 550 able to provide measurements
to MCU 510. Some MCUs 510 may have enough analog input pins so that
an external MUX 560 is not required. MCU 510 may manage the sensors
in sensor suite 550, for example, powering one or more sensors up
or down, placing one or more sensors in standby or operative mode,
determining the status of any sensor, and/or performing diagnostics
processes on any of the sensors. MCU 510 may also be programmed to
receive requests for data related to a given sensor and to provide
the data back to STA board 140 via the RS-485 bus 520. STA 140 may
then provide the data to the requester via the Wi-Fi unit 320 or
another data link.
Looking to FIG. 6, HCE 120 and HCC 110 operate in a similar fashion
to PTE 170 and PRE 160, except data is exchanged between the
transmitting and receiving coil rather than power. HCE 120 receives
5.0 VDC power from STA on the line 343. An MCU 610, for example, a
Microchip PIC32MX350F128D, may communicate with STA 140 via the
RS-485 bus 353. In the implementation shown in FIG. 6, MCU 610
receives data on a line 641 and sends data on a line 644. Data
activity is controlled by an enable signal XMIT_EN on a line 642,
643. The signals connect MCU 610 to a coil transmitter 631 and a
coil receiver 632. The P and N signals from the coil transmitter
631 and the coil receiver, connected as shown, to drive a coil,
e.g., a CCC 135W coil. CCC 135W coil interacts with a matching (may
be identical) coil CCC 135C on HCC 110, the pair of coils being
proximate to enable inductively passing data signals when the WAND
is inserted for operation. An example of the CCC 135 coil is a TDK
WR-483250-15M2-G.
Looking now to FIG. 7, HCC 110 receives 19 VDC power on a line 270
from the PTE 170. Except for operating voltage, HCE 120 and HCC 110
are very similar in operation.
An MCU 710, for example, a Microchip PIC32MX350F128D, may
communicate with SCE 180 via the RS-485 bus 280, which may be a
pass-through in PTE 170. In the embodiment of FIG. 7, MCU 710
receives data on a line 741 and sends data on a line 744. Data
activity is controlled by enable signal XMIT_EN on a line 742, 743.
The signals connect MCU 710 to a coil transmitter 731 and a coil
receiver 732. The P and N signals from the coil transmitter 731 and
the coil receiver, connected as shown, drive a CCC 135C.
HCC 110 includes an ESN (electronic serial number) 750, for example
a Maxim Integrated DS2411. WAND and collar system 100 may be used
to provide sensors and communications capability to a fixed piece
of equipment. A given the technology incorporated in WAND 101, such
as the content of sensor suites 450 and 550, may be known or
determined from a manufacturer's product model number. As such, all
WANDs 101 bearing the same model number may be expected to be the
same. That is, the WANDs would be freely interchangeable. However
the fixed equipment may be one of an unlimited number of otherwise
identical units, and a supervisory system would need to know from
which fixed piece of equipment data is being sent to or received
from a WAND 101. The number in an ESN is deemed to be unique, and
known to the supervisory system. In some embodiments WAND 101 may
be paired to a certain piece of fixed equipment by interrogating
HCC 110 through the CCC 135 communications link and asking MCU 710
to report the serial number stored in its ESN 750.
As mentioned hereinbefore, there may be electronics in the
equipment including the collar 102. By way of example, SCE 180 can
control an aeroponic growth system. SCE 180 may be designed to make
use of water sensors in WSE 150 or environmental sensors in ASE
130. In addition, WAND 101 may provide communications capability
via the Wi-Fi instantiated within STA 140 subsystem of WAND 101.
The communications may be for the purpose of providing data to an
external system or receiving commands from an external system. One
of ordinary skill in the art will know of many other purposes,
depending upon the fixed equipment and its purpose.
Per FIG. 8, an SCE 180 may communicate with WAND 101 via HCC 110 on
an RS-485 bus 280. SCE 180 may include an MCU 810, which includes a
number of general purpose input/output (GPIO) pins 820. Some
systems may include an ADC 830 to provide a digital version of
analog signals connected to the ADC 830. In an aeroponic system,
MCU 810 may provide signals to turn fans ON or OFF, as well as
motor drivers, relays, and the like. In one embodiment, SCE 180
includes a variety of colored lights, wherein MCU 810 may turn on a
light of an appropriate color, for example green, yellow, or red
and optionally a noise-producing device to provide a quick and easy
status value to an observer. In some embodiments, SCE 180, likely
being connected to grid power, which provides the 19-VDC supply
voltage to PTE 170.
FIG. 9 is a block diagram of a hydroponic growth system 900
including a network device 101 similar or identical to WAND 101
described above. In the illustrated embodiment, hydroponic growth
system 900 is an aeroponic growth system that includes plant
fixtures 910 that hold growing plants and includes a reservoir 920
containing a nutrient solution 925. Hydroponic system 900 further
includes subsystems that provide for the needs of growing plants.
For example, a nutrient supply 930 may supply a variety of
different nutrients that may be mixed with water to provide
nutrient solution 925 with a composition suited for the plants
being grown. Pumps 940 can mix nutrient solution 925 and provide
solution 925 to misters 950 that spray or otherwise apply nutrient
solution 925 to the roots of plants in fixtures 910. A lighting
system 960 can provide illumination for photosynthesis and plant
growth, and systems such as a heater 960 and fans 970 may be able
to manipulate the humidity, composition, temperature, and flow or
velocity of the air around the growing plants. In some
implementations, system control electronics 180 may be programmed
to determine operating parameters of hydroponic subsystems 930,
940, 950, 960, 970, and 980 based on measurements, data, or
instructions from ASE 130, WSE 150, or a remote device
communicating through network station 140.
As illustrated, network device 101, which includes ASE 130, network
station 140, and WSE 150 enclosed in a shared housing, fits into
collar 102 of hydroponic system 900. Network device 101 and collar
102 may have matching shapes or form factors such that when network
device 101 is inserted into collar 102, H-field communications
electronics 110 and 120 in collar 102 and device 101 are aligned
for an inductive coupling and electronics 101 and 120 can decode
induced voltages to decipher communicated information. Similarly,
power transmitter electronics 170 and power receiver electronics
160 are aligned to create an inductive coupling for power
transmission when network device 101 is properly inserted in collar
102. The inductive coupling of systems 110 and 120 for data
communications between network device 101 and system control
electronics 180 and the inductive coupling of systems 160 and 170
for supplying power to network device 101 may make hydroponic
system 900 safer and less vulnerable to electrical shorts. In
particular, a portion 151 of water sensing electronics 150 may need
to be in nutrient solution 925, and inductive couplings may isolate
a direct short to nutrient solution 925 from main power supply 190
and make such shorts less hazardous to human users and less
damaging to electronics components.
The inserting network device 101 in collar 102 may automatically
position a portion 151 of water sensing electronics 150 in nutrient
solution 925, so that water sensing electronics 150 can sense or
measure characteristics of nutrient solution 925. Inserting network
device 101 in collar 102 may similarly position a portion of air
sensing electronics 130 for sensing or measuring characteristics of
the environment around the plants growing in hydroponic system 900
or for measuring characteristics of the plants. In general, the
sensors provided in a particular implementation of network device
101 may be selected for the type of plants being grown in
hydroponic system 900 or alternatively may be general purpose
sensors useful when growing a variety of different plants. Some
examples sensors that may be included in air sensing electronics
130 include a light intensity sensor, a spectrometer or other
sensor for measuring the spectral content of light, a temperature
sensor, an air flow or air velocity sensor, a humidity sensor, an
oxygen sensor, a carbon dioxide sensor, a carbon monoxide sensor,
and sensors or other airborne chemicals or particulates. Some
examples sensors that may be included in water sensing electronics
150 include a reservoir level sensor, a pH sensor, an electrical
conductivity sensor, a total dissolved solids sensor, dissolved
oxygen, a total suspended solids, and sensors of other specific
chemicals or nutrients. FIG. 9 illustrates one example in which
network device 101 is easily removable, so that sensor suites in
network device 101 can be easily swapped by changing network device
101, for example, when hydroponic system 900 is switched to growing
a different type of plant. In particular, a variety of different
types of network devices 101 having different sensor combinations
may have housings with a form factor or shape that matches the form
factor or shape of collar 102.
FIG. 10 illustrates how a network device 101 may be inserted or
removed from a collar 102 of a hydroponic system 900. As
illustrated, network device 101 has a housing 1000 with a lower
portion 1002 shaped to slide into and fit snuggly within an opening
or guide tube 1010 of collar 102. Guide tube 1010 and the lower
portion 1002 of housing 1000 have matching or keyed cross-sections,
which may be asymmetric so that network device 101 can only be
inserted into guide tube 1010 with a desired orientation. For
example, guide tube 1010 and lower portion 1002 may have a
generally square or rectangular shape with one corner being rounded
or clipped differently from the other corners. The length of lower
portion 1002 may also be chosen so that a portion 151 of the water
sensing electronics in network device 101, which may extend from
the bottom of housing 1000, is in the reservoir of hydroponic
system 900 and is submerged in the nutrient solution when network
device 101 is fully inserted in collar 102. Housing 1000 further
includes a upper portion 1004 that may remain above a top surface
of hydroponic system 900, so that air vents 1006 and an optical
system 1008 for sensors in the air sensing electronics of network
device 101 may better sense the environment around plants in a
fixtures 910 of hydroponic system 900.
FIG. 11 shows a hydroponic system 1100 according to an alternative
implementation of an air sensing electronics (ASE) module 1130, a
network station 1140, and a water sensing electronics (WSE) module
1150. In the implementation of FIG. 11, air sensing electronics
module 1130, network station 1140, and water sensing electronics
module 1150 may be separate modules of hydroponic system 1100,
rather than being components in the housing of a removable WAND.
For example, each module 1130, 1140, and 1150 may be implemented on
separate circuit boards, and the circuit boards may be
interconnected with wires or cables or may communicate with each
other wirelessly. Using separate modules may provide greater design
freedom for positioning of air and water sensors, e.g., air sensing
electronics module 1130 may be above plants while water sensing
electronics module is adjacent to or in reservoir 920. Air sensing
electronics module 1130, network station 1140, and water sensing
electronics module 1150 may otherwise function in the same manner
as described above for ASE 130, network station 140, and WSE 150.
Hydroponic system 1100 further includes subsystems such as plant
fixtures 910, nutrient solution reservoir 920, nutrient supply 930,
pumps 940, misters 950, lights 960, a heater 970, and fans 980 that
operate under the control of control electronics 180 to provide for
the needs of growing plants as described above with reference to
FIG. 9.
STA module 1140 provides network communications for connecting
wirelessly to remote network devices or a cloud-based database, for
example, for backing up plant growth data or data points such as
measurements that ASE module 1130, WSE module 1150, or other
sensors or systems in hydroponic system 1100 acquire. STA module
1140 can also accept control commands for operation of hydroponic
system 1100 and provide the commands to system control electronics
180. In an exemplary implementation, STA module 1140 uses RS-485
bus protocols and interfaces for communication with two sensing
modules, WSE module 1150 and ASE module 1130, but alternatively STA
module 1140 may connect wirelessly to ASE module 1130 or WSE module
1150.
Water sensing electronics module 1150 collects aqueous based data
points such as real time measurements of temperature, pH,
Electrical Conductivity (EC), Total Dissolved Solids (TDS), Total
Suspended Solids (TSS), Dissolved Oxygen (DO), and reservoir level
of nutrient solution 925 in reservoir 920. In one configuration,
water sensing electronics module 1150 interfaces with STA module
1140 via RS-485 bus, instead of using an H-field or inductive
communication coupling, and STA module 1140 may powered from main
power supply 190 of hydroponic system 1100. Alternatively, WSE
module 1150 may connect to STA 1140 wirelessly, and WSE module 1150
may be isolated from many power 190 and operate on battery power or
inductive power couplings such as provided by power receiver
electronics 160 and power transmitter electronics 170, which are
described above.
Air sensing electronics module 1130 collects open-air based data
points such as real time measurements of air temperature, relative
humidity, carbon dioxide (CO.sub.2) and oxygen (O.sub.2) levels,
and illumination characteristics such as brightness and spectral
distribution. ASE module 1130 may interface to STA module via a
wired connection such as an RS-485 bus. ASE module 1130 may
alternatively run on battery power or may connect to STA module
1140 wirelessly. Although ASE module 1130 may have less shorting
risk than does WSE module 1150, local wireless communications such
as a Bluetooth communications may facilitate locating ASE module
1130 remotely from STA module 1140 or WSE module 1150. For example,
ASE module 1130 may be located in a portion of hydroponic system
1100 that is above the plants, while WSE module may be in reservoir
920 and STA module 1140 may be adjacent to system control
electronics 180.
FIG. 12 is a block diagram of one implementation of network station
module 1140. In the illustrated implementation, network station
module 110 includes a microcontroller 1210 that may be programmed
for desired communications among sensor modules 1130 and 1150,
system control 180, and through a network to a remote device. For
example, controller 1210 may execute software or firmware to
collect data points from ASE module 1130, WSE module 1150, or
system control electronics 180, to upload the data points to a
remote device or cloud database, and to provide system control
electronics 180 with the data points or with data, commands, or
instructions received from a wireless network. In the illustrated
implementation, controller 1210 has status lights 1214, e.g., red,
yellow, and green status LEDs, through which controller 1210 can
indicate the status of network station 1140 and has a diagnostic
port 1212 for testing operation of network station 1140.
Controller 1210 connects to an ASE interface 1230, which may be a
chip or other electrical circuit that implements a signaling
protocol to transmit or receive communications with ASE module
1130. For wired communication, ASE interface 1230 may be RS-485
compliant and may connect to ASE module 1130 through a connector
1232, e.g., an RJ-45 connector, and a cable not shown. Similarly,
controller 120 connects to WSE interface 1250 and SCE interface
1280, which respectively allow wired communication with WSE module
1150 and system control electronics 180 through respective
connectors 1252 and 1282 and cables not shown. For wired
connections, a power regulator 1260, which provides power to
controller 1210 can also provide power or receive power via
connectors 1232, 1252, and 1282 to ASE module 1130, WSE module
1250, and system control electronics 180. Alternatively, one or
more of interfaces 1230, 1250, and 1280 may implement a local
wireless communication protocol, e.g., Bluetooth, that enables
network station 1140 to communicate wirelessly with ASE module
1130, WSE module 1250, or system control electronics 180.
A network communication interface 1290 may be a chip or electronic
circuit that implements a wireless protocol, e.g., Wi-Fi, that
enables network device 1140 to communicate through a wireless
network extending beyond a single hydroponic system. The wireless
network may include a local network for a facility containing one
or more hydroponic systems and may connect to a wide area network
or the Internet, allowing network device 1140 to communicate with
remote or cloud-based devices and systems.
FIG. 13 is a block diagram of one implementation of an air sensing
electronics (ASE) module 1130. ASE module 1130 includes a
controller 1310 that may be programmable to operate open-air
sensors 1350, receive measurements from sensors 1350, and transmit
the measurements to network station 1140. In the illustrated
implementation, sensors 1350 may be able to digitally communicate
with controller 1310 or may provide analog measurement signals to
an analog frontend 1352 that converts the analog signals to digital
signals suitable for controller 1310. Sensors 1350 may include a
variety of sensors including but not limited to one or more light
sensors, temperature sensors, or gas sensor such as oxygen, carbon
dioxide, or carbon monoxide sensors. Controller 1310 may operate
one or more fans to circulate air for measurement by the gas
sensors among open-air sensors 1350. Controller 1310 may
communicate information such as sensor measurements to network
station 1140 through an interface circuit 1340 such as an RS-485
compliant interface chip connected to network station 1140 through
a connector 1242, e.g., an RJ-45 connector, and a cable not shown.
Alternatively, interface 1340 may implement a local wireless
connection between ASE module 1130 and network station 1140. A
power regulator 1360 is used in the implementation of FIG. 13 to
receive power through connector 1324, e.g., from network station
1140, and to supply regulated power in ASE module 1130.
FIG. 14 is a block diagram of one implementation of a water sensing
electronics (WSE) module 1150. WSE module 1150 includes a
controller 1410 that may be programmable to operate reservoir
sensors 1450, receive measurements from sensors 1450, and transmit
the measurements to network station 1140. In the illustrated
implementation, sensors 1450 may be able to digitally communicate
directly with controller 1410 or able to provide analog measurement
signals to an analog frontend 1452 that converts the analog signals
to digital signals suitable for controller 1410. Sensors 1450 may
include a variety of sensors that may be used in the reservoir of a
hydroponic system. Sensors 1450 may include, for example, a level
sensor to measure the amount of the nutrient solution in the
reservoir, a temperature sensor to measure the temperature of the
nutrient solution, a pH sensor, and a set of chemical sensors to
measure the chemical composition of the nutrient solution.
Controller 1410 may communicate information such as sensor
measurements to network station 1140 through an interface circuit
1440 such as an RS-485 compliant interface chip connect to network
station 1140 through a connector 1442, e.g., an RJ-45 connector,
and wire or cables not shown. Alternatively, interface 1440 may
implement a local wireless connection from WSE module 1150 to
network station 1140. A power system 1460 in the implementation of
FIG. 14 may be a power regulator circuit that receives electrical
power, e.g., from network station 1140, through connector 1442 and
supplies regulated power in WSE module 1150. Alternatively, power
circuit 1460 may be a battery system that provides power in WSE
module 1150 and particularly powers sensors 1450, which may operate
in the wet environment inside the reservoir of a hydroponic system.
Use of a battery may reduce electrical damage and shock risks when
compared to powering WSE module 1150 using the main power supply of
the hydroponic system. In yet another embodiment, power circuit
1460 may use an inductive coupling and a power receiving circuit
that may inductively receive power from the hydroponic system.
Although particular implementations have been disclosed, these
implementations are only examples and should not be taken as
limitations. Various adaptations and combinations of features of
the implementations disclosed are within the scope of the following
claims.
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